Cutting device



April 8, 1941. 1. s. BODKIN ETAL CUTTING DEVICE Filed June 28, 1958 INVENTOR wmg J- BOd/i'Z/ z .160 J 190 fiard Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNETE STATES PATENT OFFICE CUTTING DEVICE York Application June 28, 1938, Serial No. 216,205

'7 Claims.

The present invention relates to cutting devices and more particularly to an improved holder for razor blades and the like.

Razor blades, in addition to being used for shaving, are used for performing numerous other cutting operations. For example, razor blades may be used for sharpening pencils, or cutting paper, cardboard and the like. The objection to the use of razor blades for these purposes, is that the blades readily slip from the hand of the user or break and inflict injury. Also, razor blades cannot be conveniently carried in the pocket without damaging the clothing.

The present invention aims to provide an improved holder for razor blades and the like which shields the blades when not in use and facilitates moving them into cutting position. The invention further aims to provide a simple, inexpensive holder, particularly adapted for single edge razor blades, which reinforces the blades and prevents them from breaking while being used. In addition, the invention aims to provide a holder having a casing for storing a reserve or spare blade which can be moved conveniently into cutting position.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved holder for razor blades and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for razor blades which may be conveniently carried in the pocket and which can be used for a great number of cutting operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder constructed from a minimum number of parts and readily assembled by simple, inexpensive operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for razor blades which can be conveniently held in the hand of the user during the cutting operation without danger of injury.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for razor blades which reinforces the blades while being used.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for razor blades having a magazine for a reserve or spare blade.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder for adjustably mounting razor blades therein to determine the depth the blade will out.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of a razor blade holder, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the blade holder, showing the parts assembled;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on the lines 33 and 44, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the holder, showing a blade in position for performing cutting operations;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the holder showing the blade being utilized for cutting paper or the like; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the invention.

Referring again to the drawing and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown a holder l for razor blades 2, preferably of the single cutting edge type. The holder l comprises a pair of complementary handle members 4 and 5 which may be formed of wood, Bakelite or other suitable molding compounds. The handle members have an oblique or angularly disposed end 3 and are adapted to be held together at the other end by an eyelet 6, or the like, extending through apertures l in the handle members, having flanges 9 (Fig, 4) folded or riveted against the outer surface of the handle members.

The razor blade 2 shown herein (Fig, 1) may be the usual single edge construction and may comprise a blade part l0 having a cutting edge II and apertures or recesses 12 through which mounting parts of a holder are adapted to extend, and a reinforcing or backing strip I4 secured to the other edge of the blade. The invention is also applicable to double edge blades such as used in the Gillette type safety razors.

In order to slidably mount the razor blade in the holder, the handle members 4 and 5 each have a longitudinally extending recess I5 therein (Fig. l) forming a channel for the reinforcing strip M (Fig. 3) and a washer it slightly greater in thickness than the blade part ill, is mounted on the eyelet intermediate the handle members (Fig. 4) to space the handle members and to facilitate insertion of the blade part H). To permit the razor blade to slide into and out of cuttingposition, a slot 19 is formed in the handle; member 4 and a slot 20 is formed in the other handle member (Fig. 1) for receiving a screw or bolt member 2| extending through the aperture 12 of the blade part (Fig. 3). Preferably, the slots l9 and 2t terminate adjacent the oblique end 3 of the holder to permit the bolt member to move the blade part 10 into cutting position (Fig. 5). The slot extends lengthwise away from the oblique end a shorter distance than the slot 19 and is of such length to permit the bolt member to be moved away from the end 3 to move the cutting edge of the blade into the handle (Fig. 2).

The bolt member (Fig. 1) shown herein preferably comprises a screw 22 having a slotted head 24 and a bushing member 25 with a. head 26 and a threaded sleeve portion 27 extending into the slot 26 to receive the screw 22. The screw and bushing may be unscrewed to permit the blade to be shifted and thereafter may be tightened to hold the blade in its desired position of adjustment (Fig, 5). When the screw and bushing are tightened, they also serve to hold the handle members together.

A feature of the present invention is that the handle members and the recesses 15 providing the channel, are of a length to accommodate at least two blade members, whereby when one of the blades is being used, the other serves as a spare or reserve blade. The holder in this manner is not only a handle, but acts as a magazine or casing for additional blades. This improvement is readily provided withoutadditional cost. A further feature isthat the use of the spare blade is facilitated by, providing a slot E9 in the handle member 4, which extends lengthwise along the blade channel a suificient distance to permit the screw 22 tobe inserted into the aperture [2 of the blade (Fig. 2) to move the spare blade forwardly into the position previously occupied by the first blade, as will be described in detail in connection with the useof the device.

In Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the blade is shown in various positions of adjustment with respect to the handle members. For example, in Fig. 2 the blade is shown in its retracted position shielded within the casing provided by the handle members to permit the holder to be conveniently carried or stored when not in use. When it is desired to use the blade, the screw and bushing are loosened by inserting a key, coin or other suitable instrument in the slotted head 24, and are then moved towards the cutting end 3 of the holder, for example into the position shown in Fig. 5. The screw and bushing then are tightened to hold the blade against movement in its adjusted position to permit the cutting edge to be used for cutting or scraping operations. When the blade is in cutting position, the major portion of the blade part is between the handle members which serve to reinforce the blade. Also, due to the oblique end 3, the reinforcing strip [4 lies in the channel of the holder which provides a more sturdy support for the blade. When the blade has been used, it may be r turned to the holder as shown in Fig. 2.

The device described above, in addition to its other uses, is particularly adapted for cutting paper, cardboard or the like. To accomplish this, the blade may be adjusted, as shown in Fig. 6 to expose only a portion of the edge ll of the blade, depending upon the thickness of the material to be cut. If, for example, it is desired to cut a piece of cardboard 39, the oblique edge 3 of the holder is pressed against the upper surface of the cardboard and the holder is guided by'a ruler or-'-straight edge 3| while cutting the cardboard. By adjusting the distance the blade is exposed, better results may be obtained.

In order to remove a blade which no longer has a sharp edge and to place the spare blade into cutting position, the screw and bushing are completely removed from the slots 29 and 20. The screw or any suitable instrument is inserted into the aperture l2 of the spare blade and the spare blade is moved forwardly into cutting position and at the same time, expels the previously used blade. Thereafter, the screw and bushing may be replaced to hold the blade n its desired position. The holder may also be refilled by inserting new blades while the screw and bushing have been removed.

In Fig. 7 a modification of the preferred emsediment is illustrated for utilizing double edge razor blades or the like. The handle members 4 and 5 have relatively wide grooves l5 providing a. channel for a bladeZ' having a pair of cutting edges H. The blade has an aperture 52 through which the bolt or screw means 2: are adapted to. extend toshift and clamp the blade into its desired position. The modified device (Fig. 7) is adapted to be operated in substantially the same manner as the preferred embodiment.

It will beseen that the present invention provides an improved holder for razor blades which can be used for performing numerous cutting operations. The knife is very handy for cutting cardboard, paper, rubber or linoleum. Artists can use it for cutting mats, or layouts. In the home and office it serves as a general utility knife for opening packages, cutting cord or corrugated containers or other purposes where a scalpel sharp edge is desired. Tailors can use it for opening seams, whereas furriers can use it for cutting furs. The blades, when not in use. may beencased by the handle to prevent injury to the person or property. The cost of replacing blades is nominal, because the blades can be purchased very cheaply or razor blades no longer suitable for shaving may be used. The-holder is rugged inconstruction and is fully capable of withstanding any rough usage to which it may be subjected.

As various changesmay bemade in the form, construction and arrangement ofthe partsherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A casing for a razor blade, comprising a plurality of complementary handle members adapted to receive a razor blade, at least one of said mem bers having an elongated slot extending through the side thereof for inserting a member adapted to shift the position of. the razor blade, means adjacent one end of said handle members for movably securing said handle members together at said end only, spacing means intermediate said handle members adapted to provide a space between said handle members for the blade part of a razor blade, and means spaced from saidhandle securing means extending through said elongated slot and normally maintaining said handle members substantially in alignment with each other to form a handle portion and facilitating shifting of a razor blade.

2. 'A casing for a cutting element, comprising a plurality of complementary handle members,

each having a lengthwise extending groove therein cooperating to provide a channel for at least a portion of the cutting element and each of said members having an elongated slot extending through the side thereof for inserting a member adapted to shift the position of the cutting element, the slot in one of said handle members being located adjacent one end of said member and of a length sufficient to allow shifting of a cutting element into and out of cutting position and the slot in the other of said handle members being of a length sufiicient to allow shifting of a cutting element to a position adjacent the rear of the casing, and means for securing said handle members together.

3. A casing for a cutting element, comprising a pair of complementary handle members formed of a plastic molding compound, each having a lengthwise extending groove therein cooperating to provide a channel for a pair of blade members, said handle members each having an elongated slot extending through the side thereof for inserting a member adapted to shift the position of the blade members and adapted to assist in maintaining said handle members substantially in alignment, a blade member in the casing, and means adjacent one end of said casing for movably securing said handle members together at said end only.

4. A casing for a cutting element, comprising a pair of complementary handle members formed of a plastic molding compound, each having an oblique end and a lengthwise extending groove therein cooperating to provide a channel for a pair of blades, a pair of blades in said casing, said handle members each having an elongated slot extending through the side thereof, a member extending through said slots adapted to shift the position of said blades, one of said slots being of a length to permit both of said blades to be engaged by said blade shifting member and the other of said slots being of a length to permit said blade shifting member to move only one of said blades into said casing and partially out of said casing, and means adjacent one end thereof for securing said handle members together and adapted to facilitate movement of one of the side members about said securing means relative to the other of said side members to facilitate cleaning of the interiors of said handle members.

5. A razor blade holder of the class described comprising, in combination, a plurality of handle members adapted to retain a razor blade, each handle member having a groove therein adapted to cooperate with a similar groove in ,the other member to provide a recess for receiving the razor blade and each having an elongated slot therethrough for containing and guiding a razor blade adjusting means, the slot of one of said handle members being shorter than the slot of said other member, the handle member with the short slot having a groove at the end of said slot substantially in alignment therewith adapted to facilitate movement of a razor blade in said holder, and means extending through the handle members for holding said handle members together.

6. A razor blade holder of the class described comprising, in combination, a plurality of handle members adapted to retain a razor blade, each handle member having a groove therein, the grooves in the members being adapted to cooperate with each other to provide a recess for receiving the razor blade, each member having an elongated slot therethrough for containing and guiding a razor blade adjusting means, the slot of one of said handle members being shorter than the slot of said other member, the handle member with the short slot having a groove at the end of said slot substantially in alignment therewith adapted to facilitate movement of a razor blade in said holder, and means extending through the handle members adjacent one end thereof for pivotally and permanently holding said handle members together.

7. A razor blade holder of the class described comprising, in combination, a pair of handle members adapted to retain a razor blade having a reinforcing strip secured to one edge thereof, each handle member having a groove therein, said grooves being adapted to cooperate With each other to provide a recess for receiving the reinforcing strip of said razor blade, each of said handle members having an elongated slot therethrough for containing and guiding a razor blade adjusting means, the slot of one of said handle members being shorter than the slot of said other member, the handle member with the short slot having a groove at the end of said slot substantially in alignment therewith adapted to facilitate movement of a razor blade in said holder, 2. bearing element positioned between said handle members adjacent one end thereof adapted to facilitate relative movement of said handle members and means extending through the handle members and said bearing element for pivotally securing said handle members together.

IRVING S. BODKIN. LEO J. BOUCI-IARD. 

